Preperation for Irma, then Irma and being without power for two days and now the cleanup, has been slowing this down. Hopefully, I can get to it later in the day. Lots to go. There will be a rocky shore to the right and I've decided to have a couple of cubs with her in the water. The bears' color gave me some trouble but I think with the addition of some yellow high lighting along her back, i got it. As always, comments are more than welcome.

Good morning Art Forums and it's denizens. Thanks guys. Carl, I guess unless I have a sudden change in finances, we are here to stay. I love the warm weather, too. Never want to deal with cold again. And K, bears make great subjects. It's my second bear painting. I like them. I've placed one cub and I'm about to start the second. I also addressed an issue with Momma Bear. I realized that her back was too straight. My photos show a nice curve so I've fixed that and her color looks better. I like the way it's shaping up.

I really feel for all you who suffer from the ravages from the weather. That and the rising sea level. Next year and the year after will undoubtedly be worse. You see, there is not much news about the earth's orbit around the sun. We all know it is elliptical, but what is not common knowledge is the fact we are approaching the closest to the sun part of that elliptical orbit. Happens about every ten thousand years. Like clock work. I forget, the closest will occur in 2030, 2031 or 2032. Then about five thousand years from now the earth will re-enter the ice age era at the farthest distance from the sun. We humans have helped speed up the ice melting business this time around.

About Santa Fe, it is at 7200 above sea level. It has four seasons. The average temp in the summer is in the low 80's. In the winter, when it snows the temp is rarely as low as 20 degrees. And, yes I am captured by the open grandeur of this state. I have many, many more paintings waiting to be born. Just hope I live long enough to get some to most of them painted. Have a good evening Joseph.

Good morning Joseph. Not to worry, most people hold the idea that New Mexico is always hot. It will top 100 degrees for a few days in the summer and get below zero for a few days in winter. But most of the time it is simply pleasant. We do have water rationing, sort of. 7,000 gallons a month in the winter and 10,000 a month in the summer with designated lawn water days at no more that three days a week. Exceed those limits and water begins to become very expensive. How is the painting coming along?

Ooops...I guess I was one of those people. And the painting is moving along. I think it's going to be a good one. I'm not happy with the lower right corner. Those two straight lines created by the rocks. I'll put another rock in front to break that up. They'll be smaller rocks continuing on into the water. Will be done tonight or tomorrow, I think. I see now that I might also add some green to the far water for reflections.